Court settlements totaling $51 million in the Rialto perchlorate pollution case could mean hundreds of dollars in refunds to residents who for years paid drinking water surcharges to help cover the cost of cleaning up the mess left by an array of industries.

The latest total, announced by the government Wednesday, Dec. 5, involves agreements with more than a dozen parties, including Emhart Industries, a subsidiary of Black & Decker, and Pyro Spectaculars Inc. All operated at an industrial site in north Rialto and are believed to have spilled or dumped perchlorate, an ingredient in explosives, and trichloroethylene, a solvent.

The pollution, dating as far back as World War II, eventually invaded drinking water supplies, putting people at greater risk for cancer and thyroid problems.

nperchlorate.map

The settlements, along with one still under negotiation with B.F. Goodrich Co., are expected to provide the capital to permanently clean up the pollution in the areaâs water supplies, said attorneys representing the cities.

Local water providers and state and federal agencies have been involved in the cleanup for at least 10 years. Officials involved in the case have said the total of all the settlements was expected to be more than $100 million.

âThis is a huge day for Rialto,â City Councilman Ed Scott said. âIt is a long-awaited day.â

The settlement saves a critical source of drinking water, said Jared Blumenfeld, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agencyâs regional administrator for the Pacific Southwest, in a statement. âToday's historic settlement ensures that the impacted communities in Southern California will finally have their drinking water sources restored.â

Rialto residents could soon benefit financially, Scott said.

The money is expected to allow the cities Rialto and Colton to lift a surcharge on water bills that helped pay to clean up the water.

The average Rialto household has paid a surcharge of about $9 a month for the past eight years, Scott said. The councilman said he wants to see settlement money used to reimburse city water customers for those charges in the coming months. A typical household could get more than $800, he said.

The EPA, Rialto, Colton and San Bernardino County had sued Pyro Spectaculars Inc. and other parties suspected of dumping or burning toxic chemicals in pits at the 160-acre industrial site north of Interstate 210, between Alder and Locust avenues. The cities, as well as water districts not involved in the lawsuits, shut down 20 contaminated wells and installed treatment equipment after the pollution was discovered in 1997 â" when tests were developed that could detect perchlorate at low levels.

The land was first occupied by the military, which stored weapons and ammunition used to fight the Japanese during World War II. The site later was used by many private companies that made, stored or tested munitions, rocket motors, fireworks and other explosives.

The area was added to the EPAâs super fund list in September 2009. Trichloroethylene is known to cause cancer, and perchlorate can impair thyroid function and compromise fetal development.

The contaminated groundwater has traveled at least three miles to the southeast, toward wells owned by the city of Riverside.

Join the conversation

Keep it civil and stay on topic. No profanity, vulgarity, racial slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. By posting your comment, you agree to allow Freedom Communications, Inc. the right to republish your name and comment in additional Freedom publications without any notification or payment.